Wireless terminal, information distribution apparatus, information distribution system, and specifying method and program

Abstract

An information distribution system including radio devices installed in carriages; wireless terminals; and an information distribution apparatus. Each wireless terminal includes: a first communication unit receiving radio signals transmitted by the radio devices; a determination unit specifying, based on a reception time period and signal strength of the radio signals received by the first communication unit, a radio device installed in the carriage and a second communication unit transmitting data indicative of the radio device specified by the determination unit to an information distribution apparatus. The information distribution apparatus includes: a receiving unit receiving data including identification information indicative of a radio device from which a wireless terminal has received a radio signal and a carriage in which a user of the wireless terminal is aboard; a generation unit generating a content including information corresponding to the carriage based on the data received and a distribution unit distributing the content.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A wireless terminal comprising:
 a first communication unit that receives a plurality of radio signals from a plurality of radio devices including a radio devices installed in a carriage of a vehicle;   a determination unit that specifies, based on a reception time period and signal strength of the plurality of radio signals received by the first communication unit, a radio device installed in the carriage from among a plurality of radio devices transmitting the plurality of radio signals; and   a second communication unit that transmits data including identification information indicative of the radio device specified by the determination unit to an information distribution apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . The wireless terminal according to  claim 10 , wherein the second communication unit transmits a content including information about the carriage, the content being provided by the information distribution apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . An information distribution apparatus comprising:
 a receiving unit that receives from a plurality of wireless terminals data including identification information indicative of a radio device from which a wireless terminal has received a radio signal and a carriage in which a user of the wireless terminal is aboard;   a generation unit that generates a content including information corresponding to the carriage based on the data received by the receiving unit; and   a distribution unit that distributes the content generated by the generation unit.   
     
     
         13 . The information distribution apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising a distribution controller that causes the distribution unit to distribute the content generated for a carriage when an amount of data relating to the carriage received by the receiving unit is greater than a threshold. 
     
     
         14 . The information distribution apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the distribution controller evaluates the amount of data based on the threshold determined depending on a carriage. 
     
     
         15 . An information distribution system comprising: a plurality of radio devices installed in a plurality of carriages; a plurality of wireless terminals; and an information distribution apparatus,
 each of the plurality of wireless terminals comprising:   a first communication unit that receives a plurality of radio signals transmitted by the plurality of radio devices;   a determination unit that specifies, based on a reception time period and signal strength of the plurality of radio signals received by the first communication unit, a radio device installed in the carriage from among a plurality of radio devices transmitting the plurality of radio signals; and   a second communication unit that transmits data including identification information indicative of the radio device specified by the determination unit to an information distribution apparatus, and   the information distribution apparatus comprising:   a receiving unit that receives from a plurality of wireless terminals data including identification information indicative of a radio device from which a wireless terminal has received a radio signal and a carriage in which a user of the wireless terminal is aboard;   a generation unit that generates a content including information corresponding to the carriage based on the data received by the receiving unit; and   a distribution unit that distributes the content generated by the generation unit.   
     
     
         16 . A method of specifying a carriage of a vehicle, comprising:
 a first step of receiving a plurality of radio signals from a plurality of radio devices including a radio device installed in a carriage;   a second step of specifying, based on a reception time period and signal strength of the plurality of radio signals received in the first step, a radio device installed in a carriage from among a plurality of radio devices transmitting the plurality of radio signals; and   a third step of transmitting data including identification information indicative of the radio device specified in the second step to an information distribution apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . A program that causes a computer to execute:
 a first step of receiving a plurality of radio signals from a plurality of radio devices including a radio device installed in a carriage of a vehicle;   a second step of specifying, based on a reception time period and signal strength of the plurality of radio signals received in the first step, a radio device installed in the carriage from among a plurality of radio devices transmitting the plurality of radio signals; and   a third step of transmitting data including identification information indicative of the radio device specified by the second step to an information distribution apparatus.   
     
     
         18 . A program that causes a computer to execute:
 a first step of receiving from a plurality of wireless terminals data including identification information indicative of a radio device from which a wireless terminal has received a radio signal and a carriage in which a user of the wireless terminal is aboard;   a second step of generating a content including information corresponding to the carriage based on the data received in the first step; and   a third step of distributing the content generated in the second step.